Improvement in means for preventing incrustation in steam-boilers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. FISHER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MEANS FOR PREVENTING INCRUSTATION IN STEAM-BOILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,263, dated June 24,1873; application filed February 12, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. FISHER, of San Francisco, State ofCalifornia, have in- I vented Improvements in Preventing Incrustation inSteam-Boilers and I do hereby declare the following description andaccompanying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in theart or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use mysaidinvention or improvements without further invention or experiment.

The object of my invention is to providea simple and effective remedy orpreventive of incrustation in steam-boilers, tuyeres, and in otherplaces where incrustation is likely to occur on account of theimpurities in the water. My invention consists in flowing or coveringthe bottom or lowest portion of the boiler or other vessel to beprotected with quicksilver or any easily-fused metal or alloy, themelting point of which is below the ordinary or average temperature towhich the water employed in said boiler orvessel is intended tobeheated. Usually I shall cover the bottom or lowest part of the boiler orvessel to the depth of an inch or more with the said quicksilver oralloy, so that it will form an interposin g medium between the metal ofthe boiler or vessel and the water contained in it; but the exactquantity or thickness of the liquid metal required will vary accordingto the form or construction of the vessel.

By thus interposing a liquid metallic medium between the water andheated surface iuorustation is not only prevented at the point coveredby the liquid, but the entire interior of the vessel will be kept cleanand free from incrustation.

I am aware that Hugh McQuade, in Letters Patent No. 82,859, datedOctober 6, 1868, has claimed lining the interior of a boiler with copperplate and then amal gamatin g said plate with quicksilver for thepurpose of preventing incrustation. This I do notclaim; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The application of a body of quicksilver, or an easily-fused metal oralloy, in the bottom of steam-generatin g vessels, which, becomingmobile at a temperature of about 212 Fahrenheit, will, by its agitation,prevent incrustation, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

ROBERT A. FISHER. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

J. L. BooNE, O. M. RICHARDSON.

